REQUEST FOR CURRICULUM VITAE FOR A CONSULTANT TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR SELECTION OF PAYMENT MECHANISM FOR THE SWAZILAND PILOT CASH TRANSFER SCHEME FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN (OVC)

HEALTH, HIV/AIDS AND TB PROJECT

REQUEST FOR CURRICULUM VITAE FOR A CONSULTANT TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR SELECTION OF PAYMENT MECHANISM FOR THE SWAZILAND PILOT CASH TRANSFER SCHEME FOR ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN (OVC)

Background Information

The Governmentof Swaziland has received financing from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) towards the cost of a five-year Health HIV/AIDS and TB Project in the amount of US$20 Million equivalent. This project will be jointly financed by the European Union in the amount of Euro 14.5 million.

The project has three components: the first two, (i) strengthening the capacity of the health sector and (ii) facility-level support to improve access, quality and efficiency of services will be implemented by the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the third, (iii) strengthening of the orphans and vulnerable children safety net will be implemented by the DPM's Office.

The Health, HIV/AIDS and TB Project has made provision to strengthen safety nets for the orphans and vulnerable children.The Deputy Prime Minister's Office intends to increase social safety nets access for OVC by establishing a pilot OVC cash transfer scheme that would be appropriate for the Swaziland context. The capacity to manage the implementation of the Cash Transfer Pilot Project for OVCs isexpected to be strengthened.

The objective of the consultancy is to provide technical assistance in selection and development of Payment Mechanism forthe OVC Pilot Cash Transfer Scheme. The proposed consultancy will identify and suggest the feasible and workable options/payment mechanism (one or combination of various payment options) for the efficient, regular, reliable, accessible, transparent and cost effective delivery ofpayments to targeted beneficiaries of the programme.

The DPM, s Office now invites interested, qualified candidates to indicate their interest in providing technical support and services under this consultancy. The duration of this Consultancy is two (2) staff months. Selection shall be on the basis of examination and comparison of the qualifications of the individual candidates as evidenced by their CVs. The selected individual shall be requested to submit a costed offer to undertake the work.

Methodology and Responsibilities

The consultant will concentrate his/her efforts on three action areas:

A. Review of Existing Payment Mechanisms and Infrastructure:

• Review the existing payment mechanism being implemented in various Cash Transfer initiatives in the country. In this connection, the European Union is exploring the possibility of supporting digital transfers for an OVC education grant programme under an initiative separate from this project. The Consultant will coordinate closely with EU initiative to both contribute to and learn from their experience.

• Review of Financial/Banking Infrastructure and Technological/Telecommunication infrastructure available in the country, the geographical coverage and efficiency of public and private sector including coverage and capability of pay points, point of sale and retail stores in relation to cash transfer.

• The review should also include technological equipment's necessary to facilitate good payment system including smart card, mobile devices along with signal coverage, ATM/Debit Cards, POS machines, decoding and interfacing software assisting in payment transactions.

• Review of Swazi context interms of availability, access and use of Technology by different segments of society specially poor and vulnerable both in urban and rural areas.

• Cost Analysis of each existing and proposed alternate payment mechanisms, cost comparisons of various options. The analysis also includes administrative and logistical cost for the programme and cost to targeted beneficiary for accessing/collection of payments.

• The literature review and bringing best practices in the region suitable for Swaziland is required.

B. Propose and Design payment mechanism

• Based on the review and analysis under point A, The Consultant will propose the appropriate payment mechanism or combination of payment mechanisms, easy to be integrated with the operational processes, data base, MIS of the project, Case Management (Grievances and complaint redress mechanism) and nationalidentity system.

• Design/develop the paymentmechanism for the small pilot which would form the basis for the cashtransfer to all the beneficiaries of Pilot Cash Transfer Scheme.

• For each option the administrative arrangements and roles and responsibilities of partners involved in payment process should be clearly defined.

• The design/development should include the cost of both setup and running cost of each alternate payment mechanism.

• Present the results of analysis and review under point A. and present proposed mechanism througha one-day workshop to all stakeholders.

C. Field Testing of Proposed Payment Mechanism:

• The Consultant is requiredto be with the project during the field test of the proposed payment mechanism and based on lessons learnt on the field test finalize the proposal for the scale up to the Pilot Cash Transfer beneficiaries.

• Development of Final report, including the main lessons, conclusions and recommendations on the way forward and ToRs for the payment service providers for scaling up of payment system.

Required Qualification and Experience:

The consultant should preferably have:

• At least five (5) yearsof experience with payment systems for the safety net programmes.

• Knowledge and preferably experience in the design and implementation of Cash Transfer Programs

• In depth knowledge of IT based payment solutions, Telecommunication, Management Information Systems (MIS), and evaluation tools.

• Knowledge of Financial Sector in the region

• At least Master's Degreepreferably in Economics, Finance, Management Sciences, Social Sciences or related areas

APPLICATIONS: Submit a detailed copy of updated curriculum vitae (duties inclusive), and references. Application should be addressed to:

The Principal Secretary, Deputy Prime Minister's Office, Gwamile Street, Mbabane Swaziland.